Last week was a big fun-filled-baby-holding-familyfest and I LOVED IT.
Brian and Ali and Mia and Kate came into town on the Saturday (the 30th of June). I got to meet Kate for the first time when they arrived (Kate was born mid-January -- she's 5 1/2 months old and a real cutie!! She's a big smiler) and that was precious -- we bonded big time. Mia was her usual self (she's 3 now) -- wary at first but by that evening dying to show me all her tricks, how high she can jump etc.
Then Dave and Katie and Elizabeth (who is 1 month old) arrived on the 4th of July at the Dayton airport (I went to pick them up). I actually ran into the couple who lived next to Mom and Dad's house in Sidney while we were growing up -- my brothers were great friends with their sons -- they were at the airport dropping off a friend -- it was funny to run into them, I hadn't seen either of them since David's H.S. graduation about 14 years ago. Andy went to the Dublin parade while I was picking up Dave and Katie -- he liked it but he was disappointed that it wasn't as good as 2 years ago (and I reminded him that that was the pinnacle of good parade -- it was his first parade experience ever, it was our first 4th of July in the States etc. -- not gonna get any more exciting than that I'm afraid).
The Fourth was great fun -- we just spent the time hanging out and laughing and then we had an enormous meal and could hear the concert going on over at the high school (Village People and KC and the Sunshine Band!) -- Andy was dying to go over there, so he and I went and the rest of the family found a place nearby to sit on a hill to watch the fireworks. We ended up high up in the stands, which was fine, it was a good spot, not overly crowded and we had a good view of the concert. The Village People had finished by then and it was KC's turn. Excellent music -- really enjoyed that, all except for the ummm "dancers" that he had with him on the stage -- their style of dancing was more suited for a place with many men, a few poles and less clothing (well they did change outfits a few times and one or two of them were much "less"). But because we were that far away, it was fine -- I did feel pity for those closer to the stage.
Then the fireworks began and they were excellent. Dublin really pours a lot of money into their fireworks and it shows. Unfortunately they don't put as much into the music that they play during the fireworks... I was wishing I'd had my i-pod with me to make my own soundtrack for the fireworks, but o well! There were so many fireworks that I started to get a crick in my neck... but that also could have just been me and my freaky muscles (more about this in my next post)...
After the fireworks, we filed out with the other 2 million (ok ok it wasn't *that* many but it sure felt like it!! I have crowd anxiety -- so 100 ppl feels like 100,000 to me) people and walked back to my parents house. Dad was kind enough to drop us off so I wouldn't have to walk there and then walk back -- it's about 2 miles and I can make that walk once but not twice, so I was thankful.
Dad's birthday (the 5th of July) was a lot of fun -- we just spent the day relaxing and having a good time -- it was hilarious -- Mom had taken Bri and Mia to go pick up Dad's cake, and so I came over and as soon as I walked in the house (as was typical for the whole week) I would be handed or I would take a baby from one of the moms -- this time it was Kate I was holding (I think Ali wanted a shower or something). So I'm happily holding Kate and she's grinning and playing with my new "Auntie Kristen bling" watch (THANK YOU AUNT ANNE!!!!) from Fossil. Dad comes in and starts moaning at me about how I'm always holding a baby and how I haven't had a cold lap all week etc. And I came back with "Have I ever stolen a baby from you or hogged one when you wanted her?" and he had to admit that no, I hadn't done that! It's been GREAT because there are enough babies to go around!! So I asked if he wanted Kate and he said yes -- so I gave her to him and he turned away from me to go and get her balloon from a few feet away -- and the funniest thing is that in that short few seconds that he turned away, Katie came downstairs and said to me "can you please hold Elizabeth while I go and do something" and I was like "sure!" -- so that when Dad turned back around with Kate and her balloon, there I was sitting, grinning like a Cheshire Cat, with ANOTHER BABY!! He laughed and the put Kate on my lap too -- so I had them both -- and they took a few pictures -- I'll have to see if I can get that one and post it.
So now I am in baby-withdrawal... big time!! Come back babies!! Move to Ohio!!!!! Please??
Posted by kristen at July 15, 2007 9:51 AM